The Burland House was the home of Dr. W. H. Burland and his family. It was also known as the Jorgensen House Burland was a doctor and also the first mayor of the City of Punta Gorda. The Burland's purchased the land in 1898 and lived there until 1907. This house is a Victorian sub-type known as a shingle home. Unlike most 19th century styles, the shingle home does not emphasize decorative detailing at the doors, windows, corners, porches, or on the wall surfaces. Instead, it aims for the effect of a complex shape enclosed within a smooth surface to unify the irregular outline of the house. An interesting feature of the shingle home is the lack of interruption at the corner: There are no corner boards. Note also the patterned wood shingles in the front gable area, a tell-tale feature of Victorian architecture. In 1889 Jacob Wotitzky purchased this property for his wife and son who were awaiting him in New York. He leased a box car to transport his wife, Rosa and son, Edward, then 13 who would help run the store to Punta Gorda. Ed married Celia Hart, daughter of Gustave and Dora Hart who operated a ship chandlery on Retta Esplanade. Ed and Celia were the parents of Leo and Frank Wotitzky, prominent Punta Gorda attorneys. The Wotitzky daughter Laura, married Kirby Seward who founded the Herald in February 1893.
Jacob Wotitzky died of a stroke in his bedroom over his store. His body is interred in a Jewish Cemetery in New York. His obituary was published in the Herald in 1903. Ed carried on the family business until he was discouraged by two disasterous fires. He then was elected justice of the piece until his death in 1941. He was also legislative assistant to State Representative Albert Gilchrist. Celia died in 1979 and they are buried togeher in Indian Springs Cemetery.